Howard Stern’s future with SiriusXM revealed after retirement rumors

Howard Stern isn’t going anywhere — for now.

On Tuesday morning, the radio show host announced to all of his listeners that he signed a contract with SiriusXM to continue his radio show for three more years.

“I am happy to announce that I have figured out a way to have it all. More free time and continuing to be on the radio. Yes, we are coming back for three years,” he said on the “Howard Stern Show.”

Stern shared why he believes his decision wasn’t leaked to the public before he publicly made the announcement.

“You know why there are no leaks? Because I didn’t know anything until the weekend — whether I was staying or going,” he said.

“I’m old as f–k. I’m not supposed to be working … Where do I begin with this? Some of the staff said, ‘Can we come in and guess?’ People working here are hoping I stay,” Stern, 71, added.

However, Stern said that he liked the thought of having more free time outside of the studio.

“I do like my days off. You know me, I’m never bored. I’m busy every minute,” he shared.

“I need me time. I’ve never had me time. I’ve been working my whole life. Never really having a personal life. I thought maybe at this point in my life, I could have some free time. It would be sad, but exciting for me.

“I was really torn up. I still do love being on the radio. I think the show is better than ever.”

Over the summer, reports surfaced that the future of Stern’s radio show was in jeopardy as his $500 million contract neared its end.

“Stern’s contract is up in the fall and while Sirius is planning to make him an offer, they don’t intend for him to take it,” an insider told the US Sun in August.

“Sirius and Stern are never going to meet on the money he is going to want. It’s no longer worth the investment,” the source claimed, adding that Sirius may bargain for Stern’s library.

“But as far as him coming back to doing the show, there’s no way they can keep paying his salary. After you saw what happened with Stephen Colbert, it’s like they just can’t afford to keep him going.”

A second source told the outlet that Stern, who has become a hard-line Democrat and severed his relationship with President Donald Trump, may not get a “good offer” because of the “political climate.”

The Daily Mail then reported that Stern and his team were behind the rumors about his job being in jeopardy as a “desperate hoax” to make the “Howard Stern Show” host “relevant” again.

The following month, the media personality used Andy Cohen to troll fans into thinking he had quit.

Stern initially signed with SiriusXM in 2004, with “The Howard Stern Show” debuting on the subscription-based satellite radio service in 2006.